Self-energizing fire extinguisher



March 26, 1957 w s 2,786,537

SELF-ENERGIZING FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Dec. 9, 195.5

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cif ow/ /zyl United States Patent SELF-ENERGIZING FIRE EXTINGUISHER Harold Wainess, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to Chem-Cor, Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Application December 9, 1955, Serial No. 552,211

9 Claims. (Cl. 169-26) This invention relates generally to portable fire extinguishing devices and more particularly relates to a device of this character in which fire extinguishing chemicals are stored in a pressure holding canister and dispensed by means of the pressure in the canister, the invention being characterized by the provision of a novel valve structure for such a canister.

Pressure holding canisters, formed of thin gauge metal and having concave ends to enable the canister to withstand internal pressures in the range of 40 to 50 pounds, are widely used for dispensing insecticides, wax, paints and many other liquid materials. The herein invention is concerned with this type and size canister, but which will store a fire extinguishing chemical. However, all such canisters employ a valve housing and valve button usually mounted in the top end of the pressure vessel, and require depression of the valve button to dispense the contents. Such valve structures are therefore limited in utility in connection with fire extinguishing devices to the extent that they do not operate automatically. It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a fire extinguisher comprising a pressure holding canister of thin metal gauge and having a novel valve structure which enables the fire extinguishing chemicals stored in the canister to be dispensed automatically in the presence of fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fire extinguishing device in which the novel valve structure causes wide angle spraying of the contents of the device during its dispensing, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the dispensed chemicals.

By reason of the novel valve structure provided, the invention has been adapted for use in a particularly advantageous manner. There are numerous fire hazards in the home which may be reduced in seriousness, if not completely eliminated, by reason of the invention. For instance, during the yule season, Christmas trees with their inflammatory adornments may catch fire. The fire extinguisher embodying the invention is particularly adaptable for hanging on the tree as an ornament, but serving the main function of dispensing the fire extinguishing chemicals automatically in the event the tree catches fire. It is therefore another important object of the invention to provide such a fire extinguisher device.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a valve structure for devices of the character described which is economical and sturdy and simple to fabricate and install.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, in connection with which a preferred embodiment has been de scribed in detail in the specification and shown in the accompanying drawing. It is contemplated minor variations in size, arrangement, construction and proportion of the several parts of the invention may be made without sacrificing any of the advantages or departing fromthe principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the fire extinguisher device embodying the invention, and shown with its valve in position, dispensing the fire extinguishing chemicals.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through said device and showing said valve in closed condition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the bottom end of the device and showing the valve open.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the valve in closed position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of elongate valve stem.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 designates generally the fire extinguishing device embodying the invention. Same comprises a pressure vessel or canister 11 preferably formed of relative thin gauge sheet metal, the opposite ends of which have been capped as indicated at 12 and 13 respectively. The capped end 13 will be considered the bottom end of the pressure vessel 11, said end being formed by the concave wall 14, the circumferential edge 15 of which is engaged over the outwardly extending lip or flange 16 on the adjacent end of the canister for attachment thereat. The caps forming said ends 12 and 13 likewise may be formed from thin gauge sheet metal, however, it should be understood that the particular manner of forming the basic canister 11 has no bearing on the principles of the invention, the canister 11 as described being more properly considered merely representative of a pressure vessel of conventional size and configuration. Loaded under pressure on the interior-of the canister will be a suitable fire extinguishing chemical compound of which many are known and available.

The concave wall 14 is provided with a central opening 19 in which is mounted an elongate cylindrical valve member or stem 20. The member 20 preferably is formed of a material which will not react chemically with the fire extinguishing chemical agent stored in the device. The diameter of opening 19 is relatively greater than the diameter of the elongate member 20 for a special purpose. The member 20 is hollow and is provided with perforations 21 through the annular side Wall thereof substantially the entire length of said member.

The original position of the member 20, that is, prior to the contents of the canister having been dispensed, is seen in Figs. 3 and 5. The forward end of the said member 20 is closed off by an enlarged imperforate head 22 the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the opening 19. The head 22 is arranged on the exterior of the wall 14 with the remaining portion of elongate member 20 extended through opening 19 into the interior of the canister. The opposite end 23 of the member 20 likewise is perforated, and spaced therefrom is affixed a stop member 24. The stop member 24 may comprise a pin secured transversely through elongate member 20 or a washer of suitable size affixed on the member 20. If desired, a washer 25 of a material incapable of reacting chemically with the fire extinguishing agent may be attached on the member 20 in front of stop 24. In the form of invention shown in Fig. 6, the valve stem 20 is formed with a flange 23' integral with the interior end thereof to provide stop means.

Since the fire extinguishing chemical agent is stored in the canister 11 under pressure, the member 20 is anchored to the top wall 14 to prevent ejection of said member 20. However, in anchoring the member 20 to the wall 14, a low temperature melting solder 26 is disposed between the wall 14 and head 22 as shown in Fig. 5. The solder not only maintains head 22 overlying 5 dimension of the stem, said stem being rocked laterally during dispensing of the chemical agent to increase the area sprayed.

9. A device as described in claim 8 in which said stem has stop means on its opposite end to prevent complete 5 ejection thereof during dispensing of the chemical agent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Braman Dec. 14, 1920 McErlane Feb. 3, 1931 Adams July 18, 1939 Morton July 10. 1951 

